2004
Videos: Ocean Explorer Return to the Mariana Arc
(Each video clip has a link to a 320 x 240 movie on the Ocean
Explorer site, or a larger 480 x 360 Quicktime version.) |
 |
|
ROPOS
at the edge of Brimstone Pit near the summit of NW Rota 1 volcano,
showing ash and sulfur laden eruptions from the crater. The crater
is at a depth of 555 meters. The yellow color of the billowing clouds
is due to droplets of molten sulfur in the plume bursts. (Quicktime:OE
site- 2 MB |full-size
7.7 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
ROPOS
at the edge of Brimstone Pit near the summit of NW Rota 1 volcano,
showing a burst of ash, sulfur, and small rocks from the crater. This
type of activity has probably never been witnessed on a submarine
volcano before. (Quicktime:
OE site- 2.1 MB | full-size
7.1 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
We
found two species of shrimp at the hydrothermal vents at NW Rota 1
volcano - one large and one small. The small one may be a new species.
They both graze on the microbial mats found around the vents. (Quicktime:OE
site- 1.9 MB | full-size
7.4 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Biological
specimens are collected to identify and study the unusual species
found at hydrothermal vents. The shrimp at NW Rota 1 volcano were
difficult to capture and required patience from the scientists and
dexterity by the ROPOS pilots controlling the suction sampler. The
control room celebrates after a long and anxious pursuit. (Quicktime:OE
site- 1.5MB | full-size
5.6 MB ) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Hot
water at 240 degrees Celsius (460 degrees Fahrenheit) vents from chimneys
made of sulfide minerals at the Black Forest site at East Diamante
volcano. This temperature is right at the boiling point at this depth
(345 meters) and bubbles of gas or steam can be seen escaping from
some of the chimneys. (Quicktime:OE
site- 1.9 MB | full-size
7.1 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
The
Black Forest chimney field at East Diamante volcano is a linear zone
on the side of a cone inside the caldera of the volcano. This is about
as shallow as black smoker vents can form (345 meters), vividly illustrated
when an angel fish swims by. It is safe to say that black smoker chimneys
and reef fish are almost never seen together in the same view! (Quicktime:OE
site 620 KB | full-size
2.3 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
This
sulfide chimney at East Diamante volcano is 9 meters tall and is actively
venting hot water that appears smokey because of entrained mineral
particles. The chimney was later renamed to "Five Towers"
after more active vents were found on the other side. (Quicktime:
OE
site- 1.7 MB | full-size
7.3 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
The
dives near hydrothermal vents at East Diamante volcano (between 300-350
meters depth) encountered animals such as crabs, basket stars, crabs,
barnacles, and snails. (Quicktime: OE
site- 1.9 MB | full-size
5.5 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
A
ROPOS transect made from 200 up to 165 meters depth on the central
cone at East Diamante volcano found a remarkable zone where chemosynthesis
and photosynthesis overlap. Here, life forms dependent on chemical
energy usually found in the deep ocean, are seen in the same area
as animals dependent on sunlight. (Quicktime: OE
site- 1.4MB | full-size
7.4MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
The
"Aquarium" site at East Diamante volcano is a lush marine
community located in the deepest part of the photosynthetic zone.
You can tell by the excited voices of the scientists that the abundant
and colorful life here contrasts dramatically with the sparser biological
communities they are used to seeing at deep ocean hydrothermal vents.
(Quicktime: OE
site- 1.9 MB | full-size
6.7 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Maug
island consists of three islets that form the rim of a volcanic crater
flooded by the sea. The R/V Thompson made two dives inside the crater
at Maug with the ROPOS remotely operated vehicle. This movie shows
a ROPOS deployment from several different points of view. (Quicktime:
OE
site- 1.9 MB| full-size 6.3MB)
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Bubbles
of liquid carbon dioxide rise from hydrothermal vents at NW Eifuku
volcano. At this pressure (2300 pounds per square inch) and temperature
(2C or 36F) carbon dioxide is a viscous sticky liquid, evident in
the way that it accumulated on the undersides of the ROPOS vehicle.
(Quicktime: OE
site- 1.9 MB | full-size
7.2MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
An
extraordinary biological community exists at NW Eifuku volcano that
is dominated by a very large and densely populated bed of hydrothermal
mussels. Other vent animals at the hot springs include crabs, shrimp,
scale worms, and limpets. (Quicktime: OE
site- 1.8MB | full-size
7.0MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Around
some of the seafloor hot springs at NW Eifuku volcano, strange-looking
mounds of sulfur have been built that have thin finger-like projections.
Each "finger" has a small crater at the top where molten
sulfur has been expelled to build up the mound. (Quicktime: OE
site 1.8MB | full-size
7.0MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
This
movie shows the discovery of Champagne vent at northwest Eifuku volcano,
where bubbles of liquid carbon dioxide are actively venting from seafloor
hot springs. This unusual behavior is due to the fact that the emissions
from NW Eifuku volcano are particularly gas-rich. The high pressure
at this depth keeps the carbon dioxide in a liquid state; Champagne
vent is at a depth of 1607 m (5270 ft). (Quicktime: OE
site 1.9MB | full-size
6.3 MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Cliffhouse
vent is located at northwest Eifuku volcano on the upper edge of a
large field of hydrothermal mussels. Areas of shimmering water attract
other vent animals such as shrimp and limpets. (Quicktime: OE
site 1.8MB | full-size
8.6MB) |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Large
areas of the summit of northwest Eifuku volcano were covered with
orange bacterial mat. This mat is the biproduct of hydrothermal microbes
growing in areas where warm water is seeping out of the volcano. On
steep slopes, the mat sometimes cascades downhill as "bacteria
balls". (Quicktime: OE
site 2 MB| full-size 7.5MB) |
| |
|
|
